“JUSTIFICATION PLUS”

Romans 5:5-9

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Paul states that God has poured out His love in our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit. He then recognizes our helpless, sinful condition before Him.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

It was while we were in this helpless state of being that Christ died for us. We are called ungodly – without God (what a devastating thought)! He further emphasizes this truth in verses 7 and 8.

For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. BUT GOD demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

According to reliable commentators, the words righteous and good are synonymous. It is highly uncommon for anyone to give his life for a person of high character. But Christ demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were not people of high character – but sinners – He died for us. Humbling, isn’t it?

We now come to the first of several “much mores” in this chapter. This indicates that what follows is even more overwhelming, if that is possible.

MUCH MORE then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Not only were we justified (declared righteous) by His blood we shall, through Him, be saved from the wrath of God. Wrath is coming upon the human race. This is extremely hard to fathom. All the people who consider themselves good in their own eyes are but a bulls eye for the wrath of God. The only escape is in Jesus Christ (I John 4:15-17).

This wrath includes all forms of God’s wrath – now and in the Great Tribulation and at the Great White Throne. The Christian has experienced the terrible wrath of God in Jesus Christ on Calvary. This is shouting ground, beloved! We should be eternally grateful to Him and tell Him so.

Next week we will take up another of the “much mores”. So until then, keep loving Him and one another. God bless.

Love to you all.